“Are you and Duncan going to the New Year's Eve party at Cliff House?”
For over a hundred years, the Sherbrookes had hosted a New Year's Eve party at Cliff House in Newport. Even though she received an invitation every year, she only sometimes attended. She hadn't thought about this year's upcoming party yet, but since she was already on the East Coast, it would be easy enough to go.
“Maybe. What about you guys?”
“Brett and I will be there,” Jen answered.
“Curt and I will be in Florida with Mom and Reese,” Taylor, Curt's wife, replied. “Reese doesn't know we're going yet.”
“That sounds like fun. Erin has been after us to take her to Florida again,” Leah said. “How long are you staying?”
“Nine days. You should see about coming with us. Reese and Erin would have a blast. They love spending time together.”
While Leah and Taylor's conversation turned to how the girls got along a lot like sisters and how it was too bad they didn't live closer, Tory glanced in Duncan's direction again.
Much like earlier, Grant's words while they danced came back to haunt her, followed by Duncan's to his sister.
“You seem preoccupied. Is everything okay?” Leah nudged Tory's foot with hers.
“Just wondering what they're talking about.” No way was she voicing what the real problem was to her best friend.
“Sports, maybe. It is football season,” Jen said.
“Duncan's not all that much into football.” Now, if it were baseball season, it would be a different story.
“It's probably something that would bore us to death, whatever it is,” Leah said. “The last time Gavin and I went to Curt's, they spent over an hour discussing new solar-powered roof shingles some company designed. I don't remember the company's name. I thought I was going to fall asleep.”
Across from her, Taylor cringed. “Yeah, I remember that. It was brutal. I tuned them out after a while.
Tory hoped they talked about something as dull as solar roof shingles or sports. A little voice that sounded an awful lot like Grant, though, kept telling her otherwise.
SIXTEEN
He always enjoyedhimself when he attended a Sherbrooke event. Today had been no different. But after sharing Tory with her relatives all day, he was looking forward to some time alone with her.
“Hi, Duncan, Tory.”
He didn't need to turn around to know who’d entered the building's lobby behind them. He hadn't seen or heard from Lori Ann since Tory had her little chat with her in the locker room.
Lori Ann and someone he'd seen in the building's gym stopped next to them. Since the man had his arm around Lori Ann, Duncan guessed she'd finally given up on him and moved on to someone else.
About time.
“Do you know Isaac?” she asked, following Duncan and Tory into the elevator.
“I've seen him around, but we've never met.” Duncan jabbed the button for his floor even though he and Tory hadn't discussed whose condo they were heading to tonight. Actually, they hadn't discussed what their plans were for the night or tomorrow. On the ride back, she talked more about Reese and Erin than anything else. They reminded her of her and Leah.
“Isaac and I are going to Bermuda next week. Didn't you two go there recently?” Lori Ann asked after making introductions.
“We went to Puerto Rico, but Bermuda is gorgeous too,” Tory answered.
“I knew it was some island you went to this month. Going was Isaac's idea. We've both had enough of this cold weather.”
All things considered, the weather had been mild for this month. The coldest day so far had been about thirty-two degrees.
The elevator stopped at the fourth floor, and the doors opened, thankfully putting an end to any further small talk.
“Have fun, and if we don't see you before then, have a great new year,” Tory said as they exited the elevator.